Inquiry about future budgeting for a collaboration

[EncryptedWriting]

Hello. I really hope everyone is doing well. Sometime in the very near future I will be inheriting a bit of funds from my stocks. I am really hoping to use a portion of this sum to fund a collaboration for my novel. Aka novel to webcomic. I know that prices really range from person to person. Assuming I were to hire one person for the entire thing, are there any starting rates for an entire episode. Full storyboarded, line art, colored, and type set for about 40 - 65 panels give or take. Per episode, if you had to place yourself into that of a fantasy story, where you were to do the art: what would your starting charge be?

I want to make sure I properly pay the artist(s) whilst having a good budget saved for the entire story. Give or take 30 episodes total.

Cheers.

Edit:: There is some great advice here. I am for sure considering a team, but I was unaware if the cost would change and varry. I really appreciate it all!

[candiedcotton]

First, congrats on the funds, that's always nice to have, eh? lol.

Second, oh man, it reaaally depends on the artist. People can vary wildly from one to another. The better quality and more experience, usually the more expensive. It'd be better to sorta set a budget and see if people want to apply for said budget.

Though I'd suggest hiring two people, if you can. One for the linework and one for the coloring. Things tend to flow much better that way, and you have less of an issue with artist burnout.

[EncryptedWriting]

Thank you so much. I kid you not I had the whole two person thing typed out and decided to delete it cause I thought it might complicate things heh. Very much appreciated. I was thinking someone for story board, line art, and lettering and someone else for flats and colors.

[candiedcotton]

Nah, it's better to have a team, anyhow. It can even help with motivation or getting certain ideas, or noticing something. Maybe there's an inconsistency in a character's outfit and the colorist will even catch it and let the lead artist know.

I personally hate coloring to a point that I'd half my costs if I don't have to color, lol. So that sort of thing can make a big difference in price, too.

If you're really uncertain about your budget, then I'd get some references perhaps of some styles you like/prefer, and put that out there to see if anyone who has similar style/quality is down to apply. Pinterest boards are great for that.

[Takabe]

Aaaah ofc I myself price myself at $40 per panel for webcomics and $70 per manga page. I mean I provide quality so it's a pretty decent pricing range for me. It varies for person to person whom you ask to make the comic. I'd say 1200-1500 per if you hire me (let's say) for a webcomic 30-40 panels long. You're gonna be spending like 50 grand for a 50chs thingie.

[yugen]

It can actually cost the same to hire one person or a team. The team shares the cost of the episode between everyone, because everyone only does their part of the work. The only difference is the speed. And quality. It's really hard to find a comic artist who is equally good at everything, storyboards, lineart, and colour.
You have quite a few chapters planned. With 1-2 people, it can take 2-3 years to produce them.
It is better to hire a typesetter separately, it will cost less. This is a simple job that takes quite a lot of time.
Sometimes a single person draws backgrounds or makes 3D for them. There are actually a lot of artists who are good at drawing characters but don't like to draw backgrounds or even don't know how to do it.

As a person who sometimes manages a team for the production of webtoons, I can advise that if you do not want to manage this process yourself, then you need to find another person for this. It could be one of the team's artists.

From my experience, if you need 1-2 chapters a week, you need 3-5 people depending on the complexity of the project. Action with special effects usually requires more people (4-6).

[Starlight]

I say hire a team cuz it really helps a lot if there are four or five of you, as there is also banners and things for promotions and it's really hard for one person to complete 40-50 panels in two weeks or so. It will help the artist as well as you if there are more people.
And about cost of a team I would say I take lineartist job mostly (70-100$ per page consisting of 8-10 panels), probably the same rate for storyboarders and colorist I guess. And if it's a small story of 30 episodes then you will find many artist cuz most artist don't take long projects including me but smaller projects are the get go for us hehe.

[candiedcotton]

Agreed. And I'd charge about the same, too. Just depends on the complexity I guess. If I don't have to do backgrounds I'd easily do $15 a panel, as long as I dig the story, lol.

[yugen]

With a team, a 30-chapter project can be completed within a year.

Our regular price is $1000-1500 per webtoon episode. Sometimes $800+, but if it's something simple (slice-of-life, comedy, comic strips).

[EncryptedWriting]

@yugen wow this is some amazing advice. I for sure would take this project slowly and only do one episode maybe every other week only when we have a big enough buffer filled. I hadn't considered three or more people, but thinking about backgrounds and then certain characters, it makes sense. Everyone has their niche.

@Starlight that's a really good thing to think about when in regards to long projects. I hadn't thought of that. I don't plan for there to be any sort of deadlines as this is something slow and steady. But yes, there is some really good ideas here that I hadn't considered.

@candiedcotton Yea, I think that is what I might understand. Panels depend on complexity so it for sure takes a second to figure out.

[EncryptedWriting]

Golly yeah, that's what I expected. I would want this to be slower paced as I don't necessarily have a deadline as of yet. This is something for the future, but this is certainly something I need to think of. Price wise I think that is about right, for sure a bit higher than I have set myself for, but nevertheless good art is always worth the price of the artist(s).

[yugen]

Slow production for a year or more, when the artist isn't working full-time for you, has its risks. During this time, the artist(s) may find full-time work or another project that pays more, and your project will no longer be a priority. There may also be situations where the artist was a student and was happy with the conditions, price and timing, and then graduated and found full time work. I know a few of these situations.

[EncryptedWriting]

Oh yeah, that is certainly some things to think about. Man, I am paying for a small small webcomic right now and it just ---- so many things I hadn't considered. I really do appreciate it.

[candiedcotton]

Just remember that everyone has very different views on costs and things like that. We're all unique in our own ways.

Also, you'll probably get a better deal if the artist is really into the story, and they'll likely be more motivated to stick around and work on it.

[Katzalcoatl]

After setting a budget set a deadline. Otherwise production of just 30 episodes could be on hold forever.
Always plan ahead. Deadlines should consider any possible mishaps.
Start thinking of art style you want for your comic.

If possible design/describe all your characters physical traits before starting your comic. This will save time once you get started. If not leave it to the team/artist you hire just remember that if you leave the design up to them the characters may not fit what you had imagined.

[candiedcotton]

To bounce off this (which is all good advice), try to not nitpick things to death either though, lol.

That's always been my biggest beef with some comic commissions. When someone sends me a specific palette that covers every skin tone, hair shade, eye shade, fingernail tone, exact pair of shoes... that's usually when I'm out.

Gotta let the artist be the artist.

[Katzalcoatl]

To double bounce off this (which is true), don't be super nitpicky about every detail and do let artists be artists but do take in mind it is your idea which you are paying for it.

In other words limit the nitpickyness to the equivalent amount of money you offer. If you offer let's say $1 USD per episode you don't have any room to be picky but if you pay lets say $100,000 USD per episode you have the right to even chose the color of the microbes in each scene.
(Obviously exagerated both cases)

Point is be reasonable to the appointed budget and also get a reasonable artist/team.
Don't be a bad client but also be sure you are compatible to some degree with the artist/team.

P.S. if you are really serious and have a decent budget I would suggest getting an experienced quality checker.

[candiedcotton]

(high five)

One hundred percent.

[Tariusblue]

Hello!! It’s great to see you getting an idea of costs. Here are some insights into more specific costs per team position. I’m a webcomic assistant for a couple different projects including an upcoming Webtoon Original. These rates may vary based on the persons experience and the art style.

For Line art (I work with a moderately complex style):
$5/panel + $2/extra character

I don’t do backgrounds or effects. This is based on how fast I work, and complexity, and is subject to change with each artist/style.

For flat coloring:
$3/panel + $1/extra character

For shading (depending on the shading style):
$3-$5/panel + $2/extra character

I always say that these rates are open to negotiation since I don’t know the financial situations of the artist. There are normally no issues with these rates, and they’re accepted most often.

Keep in mind though, while these may seem low at first, 60 panels lineart with 1 person is $300, and since a webcomic can’t just have one person per panel, it’s definitely higher.

Hope this helps!! Good luck!

[teacupcatmeow]

Personally, I’m free. My price is $0. I just don’t want to make a PayPal account lmao. I’m here to make friends and work out my depression. So yeah, I’m the cheapest artist ever, but I’m chill so there’s that.